Plastic covered seal press

ABSTRACT

A seal press having a single U-shaped stamping of heavy steel plate with a handle removably assembled in pivotal relation astraddle the upper arm. A spring opened die unit is received in the throat of the stamping to rest on the lower arm to support the lower die in place with the handle and upper die urged to open position. A slidable catch locks the handle in closed position and two plastic side members fastened to the stamping, protect and hold in operative relationship the working parts.

United States Patent lnventors Charles Priesmeyer Park Ridge; John W. Meyer, Glenview, Ill. Appl. No. 882,364 Filed Dec. 15, 1969 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Assignee Meyer & Wenthe, Inc.

Chicago, 111. a corporation of Illinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 642,834, June 1, 1967, now abandoned PLASTIC COVERED SEAL PRESS 13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 101/3, 10 l /297 Int. Cl. B44b 5/00 Field of Search 101/3, 38?,

28, 297; 197/67; 264/215, 230, 271; 30/(lnquired); 161/(lnquired); 100/233, 295

24 r I y 2O 1 ml: In I; I: ,'4

lili 1!:- 22 \in liiii [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,883 12/1915 Roovers 101/3 2,906,197 9/1959 Priesmeyer... 101/28 2,998,766 9/1961 Priesmeyer 101/3 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Attorney-Harbaugh and Thomas PAT E NIEflJmlzlsn sum 1 0r 2 w m may m m m Nm w flaw?" N [SW BACKGROUND or INVENTION The present invention is animprovement upon my previous inventions shown in Priesmeye r U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,706,448; 2,998,766 and 3,313,231 reference to which is hereby made.

Not only in offices where a number of paper embossing seal dies are kept for interchangeable use with a single press, but also in selling and servicing seal presses, the factors of price, and the simplicity of construction and assembly are important considerations as well as structuraland operational ruggedness and esthetic appearances. Heretofore, seal press frames have been made of stampedsheet metal elements bent and folded to desired forms to support assembled parts with rivets and plated pins, or have been cast in integral units which have complex shapes and convolutions which are polished and finished at'greatexpense. a

Where sheet metal has been used the frames have generally been bent and shaped to a two-sided U-shaped form and because of the stamping and metal working operations, the

sheet metal used cannot be too heavy to process within a SUMMARY OF INVENTION The advantages and objects of the present invention are in contrast with these and improve over other practices old in the art.

In the present invention, a heavy steel plate is roughstamped to provide a rugged core which requires no finishing "or further processing except cadmium plating and is provided with simple die formed contours by which associated elements can be'finger assembled directly thereon inoperative positions with the flat parallel sides of the core serving as guides for the coaction of the assembled elements.

The invention is characterized by an inexpensive: rough cut seal press core capable of withstanding die: pressure above 500 pounds exerted between two overhanging arms providing a throat to receive paper therebetween for embossment.

The invention also contemplates anassembly in which the handle is slipped, with a single manual motion into the throat of the core in a normally open position and a resilient openeddie assembly is inserted in a single motion into operative position in the throat. Thereafter throughout the operation of the seal press die assembly holds the handle in its operative. position.'A readily attached hard, light plastic housing shell covers the core and supports some of the working parts in operative position and further reinforces the ,,core under embossment strains. a

The invention is further characterized by a capacity and ability to emboss quite clearly and with'ease a number of sheets of paper simultaneously where protective identification of multipage instruments is desired. i l

The invention further gains a decided advantage in the parallelism of the two dies in their closed'embossing position.

replaced or repaired,.and which are readily interchangeableand ruggedlyconstructed for heavy andslong satisfactory operation.

These being among the objects of the invention, further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawing and the descriptions relating thereto in which:

DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view 'of a pocket seal embodying the preferred form of the invention without the housing;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the pocket seal shown in FIG. l but without the die assembly in place;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view pa' ly cut away to show the arrangement of the elements;

' FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the core embodied in the FIG. 9 is an inside view of one of the housing parts showing the structure therein related to the support of the core.

DESCRIPTIOIE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in further detail the metal parts of a seal press are shown in FIG. 1 without the plastic housing, in assembled relationship with embossing dies in a closed position in which a handle 10 is-pivoted at one end of an upper arm 12' defining a throat 14 in stamped steel plate or core 16. The lower arm 18 of the core rigidly supports the lower die member 20 of a die assembly 22 similar to that shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,706,448 and 2,998,766. The upper die 24 is mounted on a spring 26 that urges it and the handle l0'to their open position.

As shown in the several views of the drawing, only three parts are shown inthe (FIG. 1) assembly and although this assembly can be used as a fully operative seal press in various applications, it is preferred that a housing 28 (FIG. 9) be used in manual applications for enclosing the assembly.

The handle 10 is basically a U-shaped' stamping with a rounded top 30 and spaced sides 32, that-are die struck to the r longitudinal squeeze-handle shape shown with the sides elongated vertically at its pivoted end 34 and spaced from each other a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the core 16 (FIG. 8). The elongated sides serve'as cars 36 which receivebetween them a cross-sectionally substantially oval cam means'38 of an axial length approximately equal to the thickness of the frame, and the left car has a latch notch 39.

The oval shape is rounded adjacent to the end 34 of the handle to serve as a pivot portion 40 while the opposite edge extends slightly beyond the ears to serve as a cam 42. In this position as shown the cam means is spot welded in place between the ears for permanent assemblywith asubstantial space 44 above the pivot portion 40.

The core '16 is stamped from steel plate to the shapeshown? straight upper edge 54 with a positioning tooth 56 on ithavingi' an inclined outer surface. The two arms define the throat 14' between them and are joined by a bight portion 58 having flat I parallel side faces 60.

In the unitary die assembly 22 (FIG. 7) the lower'die 20 is supported on a member 62 stamped from heavy flat-stockwith the inner end bifurcated at 64 and terminating in downwardly turned ends 66. The width of the slot 68 between the bifur cated ends is substantially equal to the thickness of 'the'bight 58 so that bifurcated ends can be received slidably thereon in" closely guided relationship with the front portion resting rigidly upon the straight edgeportion 54 of the lower'ann'. At

- its front end the member 62 is rounded as at 7010 receive in" supported relationship the lower die 20 .and hasa deten't recess 72 on the lower face locating the lower die with respect to the tooth 56.

Secured to the bifurcated rear end of the lower die member 12 (FIG. 7) is the substantially flat spring blade 26, likewise bifurcated at its rear end as at 76 for the same purpose, whose front end is die fonned to provide an upper die receiving downwardly opening cup 78 having spring fingers 80 in the side walls for holding the die 24 in place. At the center of the top of the cup bottom the cup 78 is provided with a die holder cap 74 hardened to serve as a follower for the cam 42. 1

With the handle and die supporting unit chrome plated, and the rough-cut frame cadmium plated to prevent rusting, as sembly is quickly accomplished by lifting the handle 10 with the handle end up so that the nose52 of the frame is received in the space 44 behind the cam means 40 and the cam means enters the recess 48. Then as the handle is pivoted towards the bight portion 58 the pivot portion 40 moves into pivotal engagement with the surface 50 (FIG. 4). Then with the handle pivoted further to its closed position its ears 36 (F IG. 8) are closely guided by the flat sides 46 of the upper arm 12 for orienting the cam 42. Thereafter the die assembly unit 22 with the dies 20 and 24 installed therein as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,231, the die holders 70 and 78 carrying the dies are finger squeezed together and the bifurcated ends slipped into the throat 14 in guided relation astraddle the bight 58 with the recess 72 engaging the tooth 56 thereupon the squeezing is relaxed and the upper die holder is released for the cap 74 therein to engage the cam means 38 to urge the handle 10 to its raised position. Novice labor can assemble the three parts without tools in less time than is taken to read this description.

This assembly of only the metal parts is ready for operation in a power driven machine when the core 16 is supported in operative position.

For purposes of manual operation and portability, the core 16 is substantially completely covered by the housing 28 which contributes its strength to the core, supports cooperating parts and preferably is at least as long as the handle 10 so that adequate gripping area is provided behind the throat 14 for manually operating the seal press. The silhouette and external shape of the housing may be anything desired. The housing line however follows that of the throat l4 and is straight on its bottom edge 82 preferably, the bottom edge to the rear of the throat should have a checkered effect as at 84 or finger convolutions for ease in holding against slippage, and under the die the bottom edge is widened as at 86 so that the seal press can be used as a desk seal. Other than that, a slightly flared reinforcing bead 88 may be provided around the throat, and, the outer surface rounded and contoured for strength and pleasing appearance.

The housing 28 is made of a plastic material in two parts preferably divided within the side planes of the core, and, as shown in FIG. 9, the mating edges, where they contact the margins of the core, are provided with tongue 90 and groove 92 interengaging elements bonded together by solvent action when assembled. Only the left hand housing part is described, the other being a mirror image thereof except for the latch aperture in the upper arm.

The outer marginal wall edge 94 of the core 16 is contacted by a flange 96 on the inner face of each housing part 28. The flanges each have a height of one-half the thickness of the core 16 and contact each other when assembled to locate the core in the housing in its proper place. The flanges 96 carry mating tongue and groove elements 90 and 92 which assist in locating the two housing parts in assembly alignment when they are softened and adhered by solvent. The outer margins of the housing parts have like flanges 98 of the same height with tongue and groove elements for the same purposes.

The inner wall of the housing parts are relieved where they contact the side faces of the core as at 100, to clear movement of the handle 10 as at 102, and to receive the bifurcated ends 66 of the die assembly as at 104 in guided relation between the upper and lower walls 106, thereof.

The inner walls of the housing parts are also relieved for lightness and a saving of material having reinforcement lands or ribs 108 interconnecting flanges 96 and 98 and the ribs either contact each other or the sides of the core in mutually supported relationship.

Where the latch notch 39 comes to rest when the handle and dies are in their closed position the housing part on the left hand side of the press (FIG. 9), for right handed users, is provided with an elongated opening 110 in partial coincidence therewith. The opening is marginally countersunk around its inner end as at 112 and slidably receives a slide latch 114 whose outer end extends through the opening. The latch is held in its operative position by a lateral flange [16 around a portion of its inner edge retained in the countersink. The inner end of the latch slides against the face of the core 16 as propelled horizontally at its outer end by the thumb of the user when the handle is in its closed position to engage and disengage the latch notch 39 with its flange 116 position. An elongated groove 118 (FIG. 9) opening into said opening 110 from the notch end of the opening is aligned with a cored recess 120 in the latch 114 to receive a light compression spring 122 which urges the latch rearwardly to its release position when free to do so aswhen-the handle is squeezed while in its closed position to relieve the strain of the die assembly spring 26 upon the latch, the latch being frictionally held in latching position by this strain when it is closed.

It will be appreciated that the two housing parts can be secured together by screw and sleeve nut assemblies if removability is desired, or by external snap clips. However, in providing a simple die form for stamping the heavy 3/ 16-inch steel plate, which is approximately double the thickness of the sheet metal that is folded for conventional frames, the use of adhesives eliminates the need and extra assembly time involved with metal elements which might require perforation of the core.

The plastic used in making the housing parts should have a tensile strength of at least 4000 psi. (ASTM D 638, D 651 and a compression strength of at least 10,000 psi. (ASTM D 638), the normal flexural and impact strengths for members of this type, and a high heat tolerance. By way of example of and not by way of limitation, suitable plastics include: polyesters, diallyl phthalate, poly acrylic esters, methylacrylate, polystyrene, phenol-fomaldehyde, phenol-furfural, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, nylon and polyethylene. The thermal stability of parts molded from the foregoing plastics is enhanced by the inclusion of a filler such as asbestos, cellulose, glass fibers, macerated fabric, rags, wood floss and mica, which have unlimited color possibilities for colors which are bleed resistant, light, stable and exhibit fastness and are unaffected by catalysts, stabilizers, lubricants and fillers.

Phenolics can be colored with Oil Red Z-l 700, Rhodamine B, Oil orange AO, Orange H, Oil Yellow, Victoria blue, methyl violet, nigrosine, lethol red, peacock blue and phtalocyanine green for example. Such dyes as oil black ZBC, oil black ZBD, oil red Z-l700 and alizarine cyanine green, among others, can be used for polystyrene. Polyesters are colored by dispersing such colorants as cadmium red, cadmium yellow, hydrated chromium oxide, ultramarine blue, burnt amber and selected carbon blacks directly into the monomer. Cellulosics,

acrylics and polyethylene respond to the same colorants as.

polystyrene. Other colorants that can be used are benzidene, yellow toner, Hansa yellow, iron blue and molubdate orange.

The manner of joining the two parts to each other can be mechanical but is preferably by solvent cement or an adhesive which is sprayed or brushed thereon just'prior to bringing the plastic parts together on the assembled device.

The manner of joining the housing parts to the frame preferably is through the use of adhesives on the two arms. Any adhesive material which is easy to handle and is compatible to the plastic and the cadmium plating may be used. The adhesive may be solvent released fused by heating, or cured at room temperature or moderate temperatures. For these purposes such adhesives as vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol acetate, vinyl acetal, vinyl butyral, hydro-carbon .resin polyamides, phenolic elastomers, polyester elastomers, epoxy resins, polyurethane (isocyanate).shellac, neoprene rubber and butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber can betused because of their excellent bonding properties, particularly to metals.

it will be observed that the die assembly can be removed and reinserted in place at will, and when withdrawn from the core the dies open more than enough to clean the dies including removing the upper die for close inspection and cleaning. Whenwithdrawing the die assembly the dies are finger pressed to closed-position, the lower die support is raised enough to clear the tooth 56, andthe assembly: can be slipped out from the bifurcated engagement with the sides of the core.

When being installed the bifurcated elements are long enough to straddle the core as the dies begin to enter the throat after which the die assemblyican be-pushed home, the bifurcation of the spring not being long enough to hang up on the cam. The rest of the spring and the upper die carrier are thereafter cammed downwardly until the recess 72 engages the tooth 56. The'bifurcation in the lower'die support can be as long asnecessary to receive the coreiin its operative position without interfering with the supportresting solidly on the upper edge of the lower core arm in; its operative position.

Weclaim:

l. A sea] press comprising a thick central core defining upper and lower arms connected by a bight portion defining a throat and capableof withstanding di'e pressures above approximately 500 pounds between the arms:

a lower embossing die; i H I means rigidly supporting the lower dieinthe throat on the lowerarm; 1

a lever handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper'arm; I

means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end ofsaid upper arm;

an upper die;

carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding with said lower die; cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close' the. dies for embossing paper therebetween; and v .7 resilient means urging said upperdie carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position. v i 2. The combination called for in claim lincluding: cover means of a length as great as that of the core enclosing all outer edges of said core other than that overlapped laterally by the handle, in its closed positionand being coextensive along the lower edge of'said throat; and

said cover member comprising two shells secured in marginal engaging relation.

3. The combination called forinclaim 2 in which said handle means has a notch in one edge overlapping said core and said cover means has an opening in pai 'tialcoincidence with said notch when said handle is in closed position, and manually controlled latch means slidable against said core in said opening to engage in said notch to releasably lock said handle and dies in closed position. i

4. The combination called for in claim 3 in which said opening is marginally countersunk around. its inner end and said latch means has a lateral flange retained in the countersink to slide against the face of the core and engage in said notch.

5. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said lever handle has side elements slidably engaging opposite sides of said upper arm in longitudinally guided relationship and providing an opening above said cam means carried by the handle.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said handle mounting means is in the lower edge of said upper arm and opens into said throat, said cam means being pivotally inserted in place when said upper die is absent from the throat.

relationship on the sides of said-upper arm for coaction 7. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said resilient means urging said upper die carrier to open position, is a spring arm having a slot remote from said upper die slidably received astraddle said bight portion in upper die guiding relationship.

8. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said lower die support means comprises a holder member supporting said lower die at one end and bifurcated at the other end to embrace the sides of said bight portion in guided relationship:

said resilient means comprising a spring member bifurcated to embrace the side of said bight portion in guided relationship; and

said holder member and resilient means being secured to each other at their bifurcated ends for maintaining the proper cooperation between the dies in their closing movement and with respect to said cam means.

9. The combination called for in claim I in which said handle means laterally overlaps a portion of the upper arm of the core in its closed position and has a notch in one edge within said overlap and including: I

a cover means for the core enclosing the upper arm in contacting relationship therewith over other than the area of said overlap; I

said cover means having an elongated opening marginally countersunk around its inner end in partial coincidence with said notch; and

manually controlled latch means mounted in said opening and having a lateral flange retained in the countersink to slide against the face of the core arm and engage in said notch when said handle is in said closed position.

10. The combination called for in claim 1 in which the upper arm defines a downwardly openin'grecess at its free end having a pivot surface, and said cam means comprising a pivot portion carried by said handle received through the recess to rest against said pivot surface, and av cam portion spaced therefrom to be engaged by said carrier means.

11. A seal press comprising a thick central rough cut core defining upper and lower arms connected by a bight portion defining a throat, and capable of withstanding die pressures of approximately 500 pounds exerted between the arms:

a lower die;

means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm;

a handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm;

means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm;

an upper die; 'carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on the sides of the upper arm for coaction with said lower die; cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die cam'er means to close the .dies for embossing paper therebetween; and

resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position.

12. A seal press comprising a central steel core at least approximately three-sixteenths inch thick defining an upper arm and a lower arm connected by a bight portion defining a throat and having parallel side faces:

a lower embossing die;

means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm;

a lever handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm;

means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm;

an upper die;

carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on said parallel side faces for coaction with said lower die;

cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close the dies for embossing paper therebetween; and

resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position.

13. A seal press comprising a central core of steel plate approximately three-sixteenths inch thick rough stamped to provide an upper arm and a lower arm connected by a bight portion defining a throat and having parallel side faces:

a lower die;

means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm;

A handle of a length in excess of the length of the core 

1. A seal press comprising a thick central core defining upper and lower arms connected by a bight portion defining a throat and capable of withstanding die pressures above approximately 500 pounds between the arms: a lower embossing die; means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm; a lever handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm; means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm; an upper die; carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on the sides of said upper arm for coaction with said lower die; cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close the dies for embossing paper therebetween; and resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position.
 2. The combination called for in claim 1 including: cover means of a length as great as that of the core enclosing all outer edges of said core other than that overlapped laterally by the handle, in its closed position and being coextensive along the lower edge of said throat; and said cover member comprising two shells secured in marginal engaging relation.
 3. The combination called for in claim 2 in which said handle means has a notch in one edge overlapping said core and said cover means has an opening in partial coincidence with said notch when said handle is in closed position, and manually controlled latch means slidable against said core in said opening to engage in said notch to releasably lock said handle and dies in closed position.
 4. The combination called for in claim 3 in which said opening is marginally countersunk around its inner end and said latch means has a lateral flange retained in the countersink to slide against the face of the core and engage in said notch.
 5. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said lever handle has side elements slidably engaging opposite sides of said upper arm in longitudinally guided relationship and providing an opening above said cam means carried by the handle.
 6. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said handle mounting means is in the lower edge of said upper arm and opens into said throat, said cam means being pivotally inserted in place when said upper die is absent from the throat.
 7. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said resilient means urging said upper die carrier to open position, is a spring arm having a slot remote from said upper die slidably received astraddle said bight portion in upper die guiding relationship.
 8. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said lower die support means comprises a holder member supporting said lower die at one end and bifurcated at the other end to embrace the sides of said bight portion in guided relationship: said resilient means comprising a spring member bifurcated to embrace the side of said bight portion in guided relationship; and said holder member and resilient means being secured to each other at their bifurcated ends for maintaining the proper cooperation between the dies in their closing movement and with respect to said cam means.
 9. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said handle means laterally overlaps a portion of the upper arm of the core in its closed position and has a notch in one edge within said overlap and including: a cover means for the core enclosing the upper arm in contacting relationship therewith over other than the area of said overlap; said cover means having an elongated opening marginally countersunk around its inner end in partial coincidence with said notch; and manually controlled latch means mounted in said opening and having a lateral flange retained in the countersink to slide against the face of the core arm and engage in said notch when said handle is in said closed position.
 10. The combination called for in claim 1 in which the upper arm defines a downwardly opening recess at its free end having a pivot surface, and said cam means comprising a pivot portion carried by said handle received through the recess to rest against said pivot surface, and a cam portion spaced therefrom to be engaged by said carrier means.
 11. A seal press comprising a thick central rough cut core defining upper and lower arms connected by a bight portion defining a throat, and capable of withstanding die pressures of approximately 500 pounds exerted between the arms: a lower die; means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm; a handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm; means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm; an upper die; carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on the sides of the upper arm for coaction with said lower die; Cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close the dies for embossing paper therebetween; and resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position.
 12. A seal press comprising a central steel core at least approximately three-sixteenths inch thick defining an upper arm and a lower arm connected by a bight portion defining a throat and having parallel side faces: a lower embossing die; means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm; a lever handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm; means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm; an upper die; carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on said parallel side faces for coaction with said lower die; cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close the dies for embossing paper therebetween; and resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position.
 13. A seal press comprising a central core of steel plate approximately three-sixteenths inch thick rough stamped to provide an upper arm and a lower arm connected by a bight portion defining a throat and having parallel side faces: a lower die; means rigidly supporting the lower die in the throat on the lower arm; A handle of a length in excess of the length of the core disposed above the upper arm; means pivotally mounting the handle at one end on the free end of said upper arm; an upper die; carrier means supporting the upper die in guided sliding relationship on said parallel side faces for coaction with said lower die; cam means carried by said handle releasably engaging said upper die carrier means to close the dies for embossing paper therebetween; and resilient means urging said upper die carrier to engage said cam means for urging said upper die and handle to a raised position. 